Peace in the Middle East Through Capitalism 

Today’s guest is Faisal Saeed Al Mutar, the co-founder of Ideas Beyond Borders (IBB), a nonprofit that translates books and articles about limited government, freedom of thought, and market economics into Arabic and other languages, and distributes them for free in the Middle East and other parts of the world. (Full disclosure: Reason’s Nick Gillespie is on the board of IBB.)

Gillespie talked with Al Mutar about IBB’s new book, Untold Stories of the Middle East, which celebrates entrepreneurs in Kurdistan, Afghanistan, and elsewhere whom IBB has given startup grants; how the October 7 attacks on Israel and fighting in Gaza and Lebanon will affect the region for decades; and what it was like to grow up in Baghdad under Saddam Hussein, various Islamic terrorist groups, and the U.S. occupation. This conversation was taped in front of a live audience in New York.

About the Author

Faisal Al Mutar

Faisal Al Mutar

Faisal Saeed Al Mutar is a social entrepreneur and founder of Ideas Beyond Borders, an organization advancing free thought, innovation, and policy reform in the Middle East. He has spoken on global platforms including TED and has been recognized with the President’s Volunteer Service Award by Barack Obama and an honorary doctorate from Whittier College.